Thaddeus Young
Position: Forward
Status: Signed through 2015-16 for an average yearly salary of $9.4 million
Signature game of 2012-13
Young’s best game of the season was on Nov. 24, 2012 at Wells Fargo Center against the Oklahoma City Thunder. Matched against Thunder big man Serge Ibaka and perennial MVP candidate Kevin Durant, Young poured in 29 points on 13-for-23 shooting to go with 15 rebounds.
But every game of the season from Young was a “signature” game. Young’s game is all about heart and hustle. He’s the first one out on the break on offense and the first player back on defense. Moreover, Young was often guarding the opposing team’s best scorer, no matter what position he played.
From Dec. 3 ...
Young has taken on an impressive list of offensive players without a drop-off in production in other aspects of his game. While taking on more responsibility as a team leader -- a role he relishes -- and becoming point man on defense, Young has moved into the starting lineup, added more minutes and picked up his scoring, rebounding and all-around activity.
Young has been Doug Collins’ Swiss Army knife that he can turn to in any situation.
“We’re asking him to get up the floor and hit on the ball. We’re asking him to blow up pick-and-rolls, which comes from his activity,” Collins said. “And now we’re asking him to get down in the post and play those guys.”
Young in 2012-13
Young established career bests in minutes per game (34.6), field goals (509), rebounds per game (7.5), assists (125), steals (133) and blocked shots (55). Though he might not be the Sixers’ best player, he was the team’s most important player. Better yet, no player on the team took the losing season to heart more than Young.
NBA
Prospectus
Young signed a five-year, $43 million deal prior to the 2011-12 season and will be the Sixers’ main building block along with Jrue Holiday. However, there is no other Sixers player that has higher trade value right now than Young. If the Sixers are rebuilding, they could deal Young, but it seems as if he’s set in Philly for the long haul.
On Thad Young …
“Thaddeus Young, and I’ve said this before, is one of the most special young men I’ve ever been around. I used to say that about [assistant coach] Michael Curry when I coached him. The epitome of a guy is a great husband, a great father and a great teammate and that’s what Thad Young is. That’s why he gives us a chance to win every night and he is absolutely critical to our success.”
--Doug Collins